Arlin "Butts" C. Barden's Obituary
Arlin “Butts” Barden, age 97, passed away peacefully on April 10 at Bethany Home in Waupaca, Wisconsin, with his sons by his side.
Born in Waupaca, Arlin was given the nickname “Butts” by childhood friends, and that nickname is how nearly everyone knew him. After graduating from Waupaca High School in 1944 during World War II, Butts immediately enlisted in the Army at age 18. After training, he was quickly sent to Germany to join the fight. As a member of a mortar squad, he fought bravely in intense and dangerous battles across Germany. He considered himself lucky to be able to come home when the war ended, and never forgot those who didn’t. Butts earned numerous awards and commendations, including a Bronze Star Medal.
He married Betty Borchardt in the summer of 1947 and they raised two sons, Bill and Bob. Butts and Betty built a life together full of warmth and joy, and lots of time with family and friends. They were always ready to join and host friendly–but competitive!--games of golf or bridge. Butts loved to hunt and fish, and taught multiple generations of his family to enjoy and appreciate the outdoors. He loved living in Waupaca, and spent 92 years of his life there. He gave back through active membership in a number of veterans’ and community organizations, including the VFW, DAV, and AmVets. He recently received a certificate celebrating his 70 continuous years of membership in the American Legion post at King. He held leadership positions on the Bethany Home board of directors and at Trinity Lutheran Church, where he was a longtime member.
Butts was proud to have spent much of his life in service. After the war, he remained in the military in the National Guard for over 20 years, spending a year away from his family at Fort Lewis in Washington when his company was mobilized during the Cuban Missile Crisis. He became a member of the staff of the Wisconsin Veterans Home at King as a firefighter, working his way up to clerk, then rising through the ranks as assistant business manager, business manager, acting Commandant, and finally Commandant. Butts was the longest-serving Commandant in King’s history, a role he held from 1965 until his retirement. He was honored and proud to ensure that veterans received the care they deserved for their service and sacrifice. Upon retirement, he was a founding partner of Badger Plastics and Supply, a business that continues to thrive today.
Butts was preceded in death by his parents, Wallace and Iona Barden; his wife, Betty; his brothers-in-law Gus Zadra, Irv Rehbein, and Leroy Borchardt; and numerous friends. He is survived by his sisters Arvilla Rehbein and Carol Zadra; his sons Bill (Betsy) and Bob (Peggy); his grandchildren Beth (Chuck) Bornhoeft, Brad Barden, Kristin (Andy) Paluch, Megan (Alex) Pickett, and Jeff (Jenessa) Barden; five great-grandchildren; and many more relatives and friends.
A celebration of life will be planned this summer. In lieu of flowers, donations would be appreciated to the Waupaca Library or the Honor Flight Network.
A special thank you to the staff of Bethany Home for their thoughtful kindness, generosity, and humor, particularly Butts’s good friend Casey “Charlie” Brown, who always made time for him. Thank you as well to Heartland Hospice for providing compassionate care and support over the last several weeks.
Butts had a booming laugh, broad smile, and an endless supply of hunting stories, and he made an unforgettable impression on everyone he met. In his later years, he often shared how grateful he was to have had such a long and happy life with so many wonderful friends and family members.
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